Annandale vs. Watertown-Mayer
7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13

Watertown-Mayer has shot to No. 5 in the Class 2A rankings with big wins over No. 9-3A Hutchinson and No. 2-3A Alexandria, and another important showdown looms for the Royals on Friday as they host Class 2A, Section 5 rival Annandale. The No. 10-2A Cardinals won the last time the teams played, leaving last year's section semifinals with a 60-49 victory.

Watertown-Mayer’s Claire Killian is scoring in bunches and finished with 27 points against Hutchinson and Alexandria. She also had 30 points in an 80-55 win over Heritage Christian on Jan. 3, and her offensive prowess could be the difference as the Royals (10-1, 2-0) look to take an early edge in section seeding process with a win over Annandale.

The Cardinals (7-3, 0-1) also own a win over No. 9-3A Hutchinson (51-38) and pushed No. 2-1A Maranatha Christian Academy in a 73-70 overtime loss on Dec. 29, making them a dangerous team. Kamryn D’Heilly (14.0 ppg) had a team-high 27 points and Hannah Purcell (19.6 ppg) finished with 24 in the loss to Maranatha. A 59-52 defeat at Dassel-Cokato on Jan. 6 extended Annandale's skid to two games, its longest of the season.

Ending the streak won't be easy as the schedule makers didn't do Annandale any favors with a game at No. 6-2A New London-Spicer three days before playing Watertown-Mayer.